Four former Hong Kong lawmakers have been released after spending more than four years in prison for their conviction under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

Forty-five ex-lawmakers and activists have been sentenced to four to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

Dozens of prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in the biggest case under a national security law that critics say has crushed political activism in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

A Hong Kong court has started hearing the final arguments of some of the city’s best-known pro-democracy activists tried under a law imposed by China’s ruling Communist Party to crush dissent.

Hong Kong police have arrested four men they accused of providing financial support to people who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security, escalating a high-profile crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to three months in prison for breaching court bans on disclosing personal information about a police officer during 2019 anti-government protests.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow has been released from jail after serving more than six months for taking part in unauthorized assemblies during massive 2019 anti-government protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent.

Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to more jail time for participating in an unauthorized vigil to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," second left, shows a victory sign and some of the 47 pro-democracy activists are escorted by Correctional Services officers to a prison van in Hong Kong, Thursday, March 4, 2021. A marathon court hearing for 47 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong charged with conspiracy to commit subversion enters its fourth day on Thursday, as the court deliberates over whether the defendants will be granted bail. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG – A Hong Kong court on Thursday ordered all 47 pro-democracy activists charged under a Beijing-imposed national security law to be kept in custody after the Department of Justice appealed an initial decision to grant 15 of them bail. The national security law criminalizes secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the city’s affairs as well as terrorism. U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab earlier called the charges “deeply disturbing” and said the national security law was being used to eliminate political dissent.

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2019, file photo, pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong stands outside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)HONG KONG – Jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested on a new charge under the national security law on Thursday while an American rights lawyer who was detained in a sweeping crackdown was granted bail. The security law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in the city’s affairs. “China’s taking a big gamble by picking away at parts of the Hong Kong system that it doesn’t like,” he said. “It really risks damaging parts that it values.”___Associated Press video journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.

(AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)HONG KONG – Hong Kong police arrested 53 former lawmakers and democracy proponents Wednesday for allegedly violating the new national security law by participating in unofficial election primaries for the territory's legislature last year. The security law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in the city’s affairs. “The Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijing’s crackdown on democracy,” Blinken wrote in his tweet. The security law is being used “to crush dissent and stifle the exercise of human rights and political freedoms.”Human Rights Watch senior China researcher Maya Wang said the national security law is a blanket law that allows the government to arrest people for exercising their rights. “Hong Kong is looking more like mainland China but where one ends and the other begins is hard to discern,” she said.

Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong, right, and Ivan Lam, left, are escorted by Correctional Services officers to prison, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Three prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, Wong, Lam, and Agnes Chow were sentenced to jail Wednesday for a protest outside police headquarters as authorities step up a crackdown on opposition to tighter Chinese control of the territory. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG – Three prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were sentenced to prison Wednesday for a protest outside police headquarters as authorities stepped up a crackdown on opposition to tighten control by Beijing over the territory. Wong, 24, is known abroad for his role as a student leader of the 2014 “Umbrella Revolution” protests in Hong Kong. “The situation in Hong Kong is getting worse by the day and it is important that the world knows that Hong Kong is no longer a free city,” Hui said in an email to The Associated Press.

Hong Kong activists, from left, Joshua Wong, Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow arrive at a court in Hong Kong, Monday, Nov. 22. The trio appear at court for their trial as they faces charges related to the besieging of a police station during anti-government protests last year. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG – Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and two other activists were taken into custody Monday after they pleaded guilty to charges related to a demonstration outside police headquarters during anti-government protests last year. Wong, together with fellow activists Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow, pleaded guilty to charges related to organizing, taking part in and inciting protesters to join an unauthorized protest outside police headquarters last June. Chow had already pleaded guilty to charges of inciting others and taking part in the protest.

HONG KONG – Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said he was arrested again Thursday for allegedly participating in an unauthorized assembly last October. Wong tweeted that he was arrested when he reported to the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s Central Police Station as part of a bail requirement. Wong told reporters after leaving the police station that it is the third case against him. He played a low-key role in mostly leaderless and sometimes violent anti-government protests last year that led to Beijing imposing the security law. However, with Beijing's encouragement, Hong Kong authorities have been pursuing charges against major opposition figures for illegal assembly and other minor infractions in what some call a campaign to harass and intimidate.

At least 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy nominees including Joshua Wong were disqualified for a September legislative election, with authorities saying Thursday they failed to uphold the city's mini-constitution and pledge allegiance to Hong Kong and Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG – At least 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy nominees including prominent activist Joshua Wong were disqualified for September legislative elections, with authorities saying Thursday they failed to uphold the city's mini-constitution and pledge allegiance to Hong Kong and Beijing. Earlier Thursday, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan denounced the new national security law imposed by Beijing in response to last year's massive protests calling for greater freedoms. “Hong Kong politics keeps changing,” said Lee. ___Associated Press journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong poses for a picture with the nomination papers as he files his candidacy in Legislative Council elections due in September in Hong Kong Monday, July 20, 2020. Activist Wong on Monday filed to stand as a candidate in an upcoming legislative election, even as the city's new national security law could disadvantage opposition candidates from taking office. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong filed candidacy papers Monday for upcoming legislative elections in Hong Kong, where the new national security law could prevent opposition candidates from taking seats. Two other pro-democracy lawmakers were disqualified in 2016 for invalidated oaths. Law fled Hong Kong for the U.K. after the security law was enacted and has said he will continue advocating for democracy in Hong Kong while abroad.

People queue up to vote in Hong Kong, Sunday, July 12, 2020, in an unofficial primary for pro-democracy candidates ahead of legislative elections in September. Over 200,000 Hong Kongers voted in an unofficial Hong Kong primary that will help the pro-democracy camp decide which candidates to field in legislative elections in September. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG Young activists and localist candidates dominated Hong Kongs unofficial pro-democracy primaries over the weekend, with hundreds of thousands of people voting despite warnings the election could violate the territory's new security law. Beijings Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office lashed out at the pro-democracy camp for holding the primaries, calling it illegal and that stating that the primaries blatantly challenges the Basic Law. It also said that the primaries violated the national security law, singling out the organizer Benny Tai and accusing him of subversive activities and advocating for the independence of Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy activists, Joshua Wong, left, Sunny Cheung, center, and Nathan Law holding a placard, speak to media to urge the European leaders against national security law for Hong Kong outside the Legislative Council, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam accused foreign critics on Wednesday of displaying blatant double standards over moves by Beijing to strengthen control over the semi-autonomous territory. Many people in Hong Kong fear their way of life which China pledged to uphold is under threat, he wrote. An earlier push to pass security legislation was shelved after massive Hong Kong street protests against it in 2003. Wong said that after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Hong Kong last week, the momentum should be kept to build a global alliance to stand with Hong Kong.

Joshua Wong, who helped lead massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2014, became the only candidate banned from running in the November poll. District councils are consultative bodies on local affairs in Hong Kong, and the election will return 452 councillors for a four-year term. Josh Hawley, a Republican US senator from Missouri, urged the Hong Kong government to confirm Wong's candidacy in a tweet last Friday. "Here's a test of Beijing's intentions toward Hong Kong: will they allow pro-democracy champion Joshua Wong to run ... or will they intervene & disbar him? "I feel that many Hong Kong people may have some unhappiness and grievances about the government policies," Lam said when responding to a question from CNN's Kristie Lu Stout.

CNN VideoHONG KONG - Hong Kong pro-democracy activist leader Joshua Wong has appealed to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel for help ahead of her upcoming visit to China. Drawing on Merkel's decades living in communist East Germany, the letter reads: "Chancellor Merkel, you grew up in the GDR [German Democratic Republic]. Seibert dodged a question over whether Merkel would show support to Wong and the other activists before reiterating Germany's position on Hong Kong. "People in Hong Kong have a long tradition of the rule of law, and the 1997 basic law enshrines that law," he added. CNN's Nadine Schmidt reported from Berlin and Begona Blanco Munoz reported from Hong Kong.

HONG KONG - High-profile pro-democracy leaders were arrested Friday in Hong Kong, in an apparent roundup of activists ahead of what will be the 13th consecutive weekend of mass protests in the Asian financial hub. Hong Kong Police say they arrived on the scene shortly after the report and are searching for two suspects. Chinese troop movement ahead of planned ralliesLast weekend saw a return to violence after a week of relative calm in Hong Kong. The three arrests come as China said it was rotating fresh military troops to the Hong Kong garrison. China has stationed troops in Hong Kong since it was turned over to the Chinese in 1997 from Great Britain.